Roses & Weeds

There is a lot to unpack in the City of Tyler’s 2026-2027 budget, from changes residents see on their tax and utility bills to decisions about how the City pays for major equipment, infrastructure, and everyday services. In this episode of Roses & Weeds , hosts Julie Goodgame and Deputy City Manager Stephanie Franklin sit down with City Manager Edward Broussard and Assistant City Manager Keidr...

3 judges and a festival director take over the podcast studio to dish on all things Tyler Film Fest! Don’t miss hearing from Festival Director Craig O'Daniel and judges Becca Hale, Trevor Hicks, and Derrick Simiyu about the short films hitting the Liberty Hall screen Sept. 18 and 19 and what makes this year’s festival lineup worth seeing. They also share a little about the judging process, th...

District 6 gets the mic! In the latest episode of Roses & Weeds, Sage Sowels and Payton Weidman sit down with Councilmember Carleen Dark-Bays to get to know Tyler’s newest representative for District 6. They talk about her Tyler roots, family, community involvement, what led her to serve on City Council, and the goals she’s bringing into her new role. Then, Carleen takes on a “rapid-fire” roun...

Mayor Stuart Hene enters the chat! In this episode of Roses & Weeds, hosts Adriana Rodriguez and Sage Sowels sit down with Tyler’s new Mayor to learn more about his background, his vision for the City’s future, and what he hopes to accomplish during his term. Then, they put Mayor Hene in the hot seat for a rapid-fire round covering everything from morning routines and childhood memories to the...

Spring is right around the corner, and Tyler is getting ready to bloom. In this episode, hosts Sage Sowels and Payton Weidman talk with Arborist Luke Alfaro and Horticulturist Jana Pirtle about Tyler’s urban landscape, what’s happening at the Tyler Rose Garden, and a few simple tips to help your own garden thrive. Roses & Weeds is hosted by the City of Tyler's Communication Department. If...

When winter weather threatens East Texas, preparation starts long before the first freeze. In this episode, we sit down with leaders from the City of Tyler’s Streets and Fire Departments to talk through how crews prepare for cold conditions, respond in real time, and keep residents safe when temperatures drop. From road treatment and emergency response to behind-the-scenes coordination, they share...

Utility bills can be confusing (and frustrating), and we know many customers have questions about what they’re seeing and why changes are happening. In this milestone 100th episode of Roses & Weeds , hosts Payton Weidman and Adriana Rodriguez, along with guest Chris Cambra from the Water Business Office, walk through upcoming updates to Tyler’s utility billing and customer tools, including a r...

Downtown Tyler is buzzing with change! In the latest Roses & Weeds episode, host Sage Sowels and guests Amber Varona, Lindsey Froneberger, and Haleigh Franck with the Main Street team share what’s taking shape through the Downtown Improvement Project, the stories behind local favorites like Liberty Hall, and how the City is keeping Tyler’s charm while building its future. Roses & Weeds is...

In this episode of Roses & Weeds, host Sage Sowels sits down with Craig O’Daniel, the Director of the Tyler Film Festival, and judges Shadai Perez and Becca Hale to discuss everything related to the festival. Scheduled for September 12 & 13, the event promises to be an incredible celebration of storytelling, creativity, and community.  This week's episode was recorded in a unique loca...

In this episode, hosts Sage Sowels and Adriana Rodriguez sit down with Tyler Area Business Education Council Executive Director LaToya Young and City of Tyler Parks Director Leanne Robinette to discuss the upcoming 12th Annual #SchoolisCool event! It's a free, family-friendly back-to-school celebration happening Aug. 7 from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Rose Garden and W.T. Brookshire Conference...

In this episode of Roses & Weeds , we sit down with Shonda Marsh, the newly elected City Council member representing District 3 in Tyler. Shonda shares her journey from a career in healthcare to serving her community at City Hall. She opens up about her family, the values that shaped her, and the mentors who inspired her to run for office. Join us as we get to know the person behind the title...

In this episode, we sit down with Mayor Warren, Assistant City Manager Heather Nick, and David Jones from Freese and Nichols to discuss the City of Tyler's new Comprehensive Plan. This strategic roadmap is designed to guide Tyler’s growth over the next 20 years, updating the original Tyler 1st Comprehensive Plan from 2007. Listen now to hear how we're creating a shared vision for Tyler t...

In this special episode, we sat down with Mayor Don Warren and City Manager Ed Broussard for a candid conversation about Mayor Warren’s time in office. They discuss the projects that will drive the continued growth in Tyler,  the partnerships that helped move the City forward, and the foundational work laid for the next mayor and all of Tyler.  Roses & Weeds is hosted by the City of Tyler&apos...

In this episode of Roses & Weeds , we highlight a critical but often overlooked part of city planning and public safety: stormwater, drainage and erosion control. These systems play a vital role in protecting homes, roads and the environment — yet they often go unnoticed until problems arise. City of Tyler Development Services Engineering Manager Darrel Kotzur and Stormwater Management and Env...

In this episode of Roses & Weeds , hosts Payton Weidman and Sage Sowels sit down with Catherine Cromer, the statewide coordinator of TxDOT’s Adopt-a-Highway program, and Casey Williams, the Keep Tyler Beautiful Coordinator. Together, they explore the Adopt-a-Highway program's rich history and how Tyler played a key role in its origins. As the program celebrates a major anniversary, our gu...

In this episode of Roses and Weeds , hosts Julie Goodgame and Adriana Rodriguez welcome Leroy Sparrow, Director of Solid Waste, and Casey Williams, Keep Tyler Beautiful Coordinator, to discuss the current state of recycling in Tyler following the devastating fire that destroyed the Rivers Recycling Center in Kilgore. Leroy provides insights into the challenges faced by the city's recycling ef...

In this episode of Roses & Weeds, hosts Adriana Rodriquez and Sage Sowels are joined by Todd Lestage and Joe Barboza, who oversee the City of Tyler's three historic cemeteries. Together, they uncover the rich history behind each site, share what it takes to maintain these resting places, and highlight the unique stories that make them special. Tune in for an enlightening conversation behi...

In this episode of Roses & Weeds , hosts Julie Goodgame and Adriana Rodríguez sit down with the City of Tyler's newest councilmember, Petra Hawkins. Petra shares her inspiring journey, from her nursing and real estate background to her strong family roots in the Tyler community. She discusses how her experiences have shaped her desire to give back and make a meaningful impact in the lives...

In this episode of the podcast, City Manager Ed Broussard, Deputy City Manager Stephanie Franklin, and Senior Management Analyst Blake Cathey join host Julie Goodgame to discuss the City of Tyler's Fiscal Year 2024-2025 budget. Together, they delve into the intricacies of budget development, exploring the various factors considered during the process. The discussion also covers the City'...

Join host and Tyler Film Festival Assistant Director Payton Weidman as she sits down with this year's festival judges — Craig O'Daniel, Lauren Cater, and Justin Reese. Get an inside look at the judging process and hear about some of the incredible films set to screen during the 2024 festival at Liberty Hall!  Roses & Weeds is hosted by the City of Tyler's Communication Departmen...

It's Parks Month, and to celebrate, co-host Adriana Rodriguez welcomes the Parks and Recreation Department. This episode features Recreation Manager Kandice Johnson and Service Coordinator Kristi Nipp as they dive into all things Parks and Recreation. Discover the essence of #WhereYouBelong as we explore the beauty, diversity, and community spirit of Tyler's parks. Roses & Weeds is h...

In the latest episode of Roses and Weeds , Adriana Rodriguez and co-host Payton Weidman welcome Tyler Fire Chief David Coble to discuss the aftermath of the recent severe storm in the City of Tyler. Chief Coble shares firsthand accounts of the storm's impact, detailing the extensive damage to homes, businesses, and public infrastructure. The conversation shifts to the City’s immediate respons...

Hear from Mayor Warren on how the City of Tyler is becoming "Future Ready" through initiatives that were in the early planning stages years before and are now complete or moving forward.  Roses & Weeds is hosted by the City of Tyler's Communication Department. If you have any questions, comments, or ideas for future show topics, please reach out to us at PublicRelations@TylerTex...

In the latest episode of Roses and Weeds, Utilities Director Kate Dietz and Tyler Water Utilities Project Engineer Jacob Yanker discuss the City of Tyler's Lead Service Line Inventory campaign. They explain the importance of identifying and replacing lead service lines to continue ensuring safe drinking water for the community. They also dive into the challenges and successes of the campaign,...

In this episode of the podcast, City Manager Ed Broussard and Deputy City Manager Stephanie Franklin join host Julie Goodgame to discuss the City of Tyler's Fiscal Year 2024 budget. They go into detail about how the budget is developed and what factors are taken into consideration during the process. They also discuss the City's priorities for the coming year and how the changes will aff...